Internet Horology Club 185
I think I Done Good - Columbus 18 S

This topic can be found at:
https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1086047761/m/9243960757

December 28, 2010, 21:19
Bud Melless
I think I Done Good - Columbus 18 S
Hello everybody;

I'd like to show you my latest acquisition. I found this Columbus 18s just laying around up their on eBay and as soon as I saw it I just had to have it.

The only things is, (and I have looked very hard) I cannot find this particular movement in the 2010 guide and was hoping someone here could help me find it there.

It's a full plate nickel movement, 15 jewels and can be wound both by a key, or by the stem. (I thought this was pretty special), and is lever set. It's also a fairly low serial number I believe.(68848)

If you can help me date this and provide any other details I'd really appreciate it.

Bud




December 28, 2010, 22:11
Eric Unselt
Great pick, Bud. The case alone is a keeper, and a nice transitional Columbus.

Does it say "Ohio" above the dial signature?
December 28, 2010, 22:16
Gary E. Foster
Hi Bud, I think you did good too. That is a very nice looking Columbus, great hunter case, very clean movement, it's a transition movement, that is both stem and key wind, I'm not sure but I think it is possibly 11 jewels, a 15 jewel movement would probably be marked adjusted.

Gary
December 28, 2010, 23:33
Bud Melless
Hi Eric, and Gary. Thanks, I was hoping it was a good one.

Yes, it does say Ohio above "Columbus" does that mean anything?

Thanks again

Bud
December 29, 2010, 06:14
Jim Bielefeldt
Nice watch, Great pick. If you dont mind me asking, how much did it cost?
December 29, 2010, 08:40
Bud Melless
Hello Jim, and thanks. The cost was, well.................. let me put it this way.

30% came from the kiddies school lunch fund, 20% came from my wife's personal needs money, 10% was from the cookie jar, (thank God it's opaque), and 40% came from the mortgage payment fund.

I hope that does it Jim.

Bud
ps
Would any of our members have an extra room we could rent for the cold months? I think it would be starting in February onward.
December 29, 2010, 08:53
Ernie Loga
Hi Bud:

Very beautiful Columbus. You did good!

According to the serial numbers I have been able to find your watch was made in 1886. that is just 12 years after Deitrich Gruen started making watches in 1874. In 1882 he moved to a new factory in "German Town" section of Columbus, OH. and started making their own movements in partnership with W. J. Savage.

So, you watch would be made only 4 years after they started to make their own Columbus movements.
December 29, 2010, 09:34
Edward Kitner
Beautiful watch Bud. With a serial number like that it is a keeper.
December 29, 2010, 10:10
Jim Bielefeldt
LOL Bud it sounds like we both have the same funding options when buying expensive watches. But it is a very nice watch and I would have probably done the same. Its a real low serial number.

PS
I dont have a extra room, but there is a heated dog house. But dogs dont mind ticking. Big Grin
December 29, 2010, 10:39
Edward L. Parsons, Jr.
Good going Bud, she's a beauty!


Best Regards,

Ed
December 29, 2010, 12:00
Jerry King
See there Bud, this is what happens when you 'hang in there'.... Wink

A really nice Columbus Transitional....You have done quite nicely, Bud....

Congratulations...!

Regards,

Jerry
December 29, 2010, 13:21
David Abbe
Beautiful watch, if it is eBay#370468947142, You "stole it", I wish my "cookie Jar" were as deep!
December 29, 2010, 14:37
Bud Melless
Hello David, and yes, it is indeed eBay Item # "370468947142" I was actucally a little worried, and although I wanted it real bad I hoped it wouldn't go too high and make me look like a real "noob" (no disrespect to new people intended).

The last bid I made about 9:30 on Monday night was $310.00 I think it was and then it suddenly jumped to $380.00. My heart was racing so fast my hand was shaking, and at the last nine seconds I placed a bid of $649.99 thinking that nobody would be dumb enough to do that. It turned out that every bidder on eBay was smarter than I because nobody did bid that much. It turned I won it at $385.00 and the seller and I made a deal to ship it insured for $15.00 He seemed like a pretty decent person.

So, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

Thanks David, and thanks also to you Edward K., Jim, Edward L. and you too Ernie for all the kind comments. You guys areall great and you've just made me feel like I'm one of the bunch.

I'm a new guy. I'm a pocket watch collector. I done good. I owe it all to IHC185 and you folks.

Thanks a million all of you.

Bud
ps
I still have a whole lot to learn and I know it. Now if I can only learn how to decipher this "2010 Guide" The next issue I'm going to talk to Mr. Gilbert and Mr. Shugart to see if they could write a copy in English, just for me.
December 29, 2010, 14:40
Bud Melless
Hi Ernie;

I meant to ask you, where you found this information. Was it in the 2010 guide or somewhere else.


According to the serial numbers I have been able to find your watch was made in 1886. that is just 12 years after Deitrich Gruen started making watches in 1874. In 1882 he moved to a new factory in "German Town" section of Columbus, OH. and started making their own movements in partnership with W. J. Savage.
December 29, 2010, 16:50
Ernie Loga
Bud:

I found it on-line under Dietrich Gruen. Here is the Web Link: http://www.pocketwatchrepair.c...tories/columbus.html
December 29, 2010, 17:44
Bud Melless
Thanks very much Ernie, I appreciate that.

Bud
December 29, 2010, 18:01
Roger J. Nolfe
A really beautiful timepiece and a pretty gutsy buy. This isn't a watch that parts would be easy to come by. Enjoy your watch!
December 29, 2010, 18:15
Bud Melless
Hello Roger, and thanks. I guess you're probably right about that but I figured the number of times I'm going to actually use this watch I think I'm pretty safe in that respect.

Bud